This bulletin is also available
on the Archdiocesan website,
www.arch-no.org.
New this Week
Archdiocesan News Oracle
O ffi c i a l
Appointments
Jubilee of Mercy
Indulgences
Respect Life
Focus-Assisted
R e p r o d u c ti v e
Technologies
Access Jazz
Brunch and Silent
A u c ti o n
Spiritual Work of
Mercy “Counsel”
Easter
Intercessions for
the Year of Mercy
N o m i n a ti o n s f o r
the Saint John
Paul II Award
Requirement to
Retain Financial
I n f o r m a ti o n
Requirement to
Retain FEMA
D o c u m e n t a ti o n
41st Annual
Clergy Open
Worldwide
Marriage
Encounter
P o s i ti o n s
Available
A p r i l
6 ,
2 0 1 6
Official Appointments
In order to provide pastoral care for the people of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Aymond has made the following appointments:
Pastors: All appointments for pastors are for a six year term, which may be renewed.
Reverend Steven Bruno as Pastor of St. Rita Parish, Harahan, effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend Christian DeLerno as Pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Church, Metairie, effective
July 1, 2016.
Reverend John Restrepo, O.P. as Pastor of St. Dominic Parish, New Orleans, effective
July 1, 2016.
Reverend John Dominic Sims, O.P. as Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Orleans, effective July 1, 2016.
Very Reverend James Wehner, S.T.D. as Pastor of St. Rita Parish, New Orleans, while
remaining Rector-President of Notre Dame Seminary, effective July 1, 2016.
Administrator
Reverend Peter Finney as Administrator of St. Rita Parish, New Orleans, effective July
1, 2016.
Notre Dame Seminary Faculty
Reverend John Arnone, as a member of the Notre Dame Seminary formation staff and
faculty, effective July 1, 2016.
Parochial Vicar
Reverend Colin Braud as Parochial Vicar of St. Ann Parish, Metairie, effective July 1,
2016.
Reverend Travis Clark as Parochial Vicar of St. Anselm Parish, Madisonville, effective
July 1, 2016.
Reverend Gary Copping as Parochial Vicar of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Slidell, effective
July 1, 2016.
Reverend Daniel Green as Parochial Vicar of Blessed Trinity Parish, New Orleans, effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend Bryan Howard as Parochial Vicar of St. Peter Parish, Covington, effective July
1, 2016.
Reverend Matthew Johnston as Parochial Vicar of St. Joan of Arc Parish, LaPlace, effective July 1, 2016.
Page 2
Parochial Vicar (Continued)
Reverend Marlon Mangubat as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish, Chalmette, effective July
1, 2016.
Reverend Vincent Phan as Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Metairie , effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend Kyle Sanders as Parochial Vicar of St. Philip Neri Parish, Metairie, effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend Sidney Speaks as Parochial Vicar of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, River Ridge, effective June 18,
2016.
Newly Ordained Priests (to be ordained June 4, 2016)
Reverend Patrick Carr as Parochial Vicar of St. Angela Parish, Metairie, effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend Paul Clark as Parochial Vicar of Divine Mercy Parish, Kenner, effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend David Ducote as Parochial Vicar of St. Clement of Rome Parish, Metairie, effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend Francis Nguyen as Parochial Vicar of Visitation of Our Lady Parish, Marrero, effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend Francis Offia as Parochial Vicar of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Slidell, effective July 1, 2016.
Reverend Kenneth Smith as Parochial Vicar of St. Rita Parish, Harahan, effective July 1, 2016.
Licentiate in Canon Law
Reverend Garrett O’Brien will begin a full-time program to earn the Licentiate in Canon Law at The Catholic
University of America in Washington, D.C., effective August, 2016.
Ministry Outside of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
Reverend Paul Van Tung Nguyen, effective July 1, 2016. (As a Missionary to Vietnam)
Retirement
Reverend Msgr. Robert Massett, effective July 1, 2016.
We are very grateful to Msgr. Robert Massett for his many years of faithful service as a priest and very dedicated pastor.
Transitional Deacons (to be ordained May 21, 2016)
Reverend Mr. José Cáceres as Deacon intern, St. Clement of Rome Parish, Metairie, effective June, 2016 –
May, 2017.
Reverend Mr. Colm Cahill as Deacon intern, St. Pius X Parish, New Orleans, effective June – October, 2016.
Reverend Mr. Alex Guzman as Deacon intern, St. Jerome Parish, Kenner, effective June, 2016 – May, 2017.
Reverend Mr. Pedro Prada as Deacon intern, Divine Mercy Parish, Kenner, effective June, 2016 – May, 2017.
Reverend Mr. Jared Paul Rodrigue as Deacon intern, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Metairie, effective June –
October, 2016.
Archdiocesan News Oracle
Page 3
A Message from the Archbishop
Announcements
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, will issue an exhortation that will summarize and give future direction to the discussion of the two Synod’s on the Family. We expect the exhortation to be released
from Rome on Friday, April 8, 2016. We will provide a summary in the weeks to come.
Impelled by Christ’s
call, we who serve
in the departments
and offices of the
Archdiocese of New
Orleans collaborate
with the Archbishop
and one another in
bringing about the
Reign of God. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we work in service to and in collaboration with
parishes, schools,
and organizations
to evangelize and
catechize, offer witness and lead service, worship and
give pastoral care
to all of God’s people to advance the
saving mission of
Christ.

Each year on Good Shepherd Sunday, we designate a special second collection to help support
the medical and retirement expenses of our diocesan priests. Please see the attached letter to
be shared with parishioners at all Masses the weekend of April 9-10, 2016. Parishes in need of
envelopes for this collection are asked to please contact Alison Guerra in the Department of
Clergy Office at 504-861-6269.

The Altar Server Award Mass and supper will be held tonight, April 6, 2016, at 5:30 PM at St.
Rita in New Orleans.

Founders’ Day Mass for Good Shepherd School will be held at Immaculate Conception Church
at 9:00 AM on April 8, 2016.

We will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Violet, LA on Saturday, April
9, 2016, with Mass at 4:00 PM. Prayerful procession to honor Our Lady of Lourdes begins at
3:45 PM.

A Mass of Thanksgiving will be held on April 10, 2016, at 3:00 PM at St. Rita Church in New Orleans to honor all Sisters, Brothers, Diocesan and Religious Order Priests and Deacons, in the
Archdiocese of New Orleans who are celebrating a jubilee this year. A reception will follow in
Moreau Hall.

The Ministerial Council will meet on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at Notre Dame Seminary at
9:00 AM.

Bishop Douglas Deshotel will be installed as Bishop of Lafayette on Friday, April 15, 2016, at
2:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans will celebrate the annual Mass for Vocations on Sunday, April
17, 2016, at 11:00 AM at St. Louis Cathedral. All priests, sisters, brothers, deacons and people
of the archdiocese are cordially invited to attend. Seminarians, women and men in formation
for consecrated life, and diaconate candidates will join together in thanking God for their vocation. All the people of the archdiocese are encouraged to participate in prayer, both for an increase in vocations and for those men and women who have committed themselves to a religious vocation.

Study Day for all priests in the archdiocese is scheduled on Thursday, April 21, 2016. It will be
held at St. Maria Goretti Parish 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. The special presentation on Safe Environment will feature Dr. Monica Applewhite. Attendance at this presentation will count as Safe
Environment training which will be valid through 2019.

Please remember in prayer all those preparing for Confirmation.
Mark Your Calendars
May 21, 2016
June 4, 2016
Sept. 14, 2016
Sept. 20-22, 2016
May 20, 2017
June 3, 2017
Sept. 13, 2017
Sept. 19-21, 2017
Archdiocesan News Oracle
Transitional Diaconate Ordination
Priesthood Ordination
Sacrament of Reconciliation “Confessions” available in all parishes
Priests’ Convocation
Transitional Diaconate Ordination
Priesthood Ordination
Sacrament of Reconciliation “Confessions” available in all parishes
Louisiana Priest Convention in New Orleans
Page 4
Jubilee of Mercy: Did You Know?
As part of the ongoing promotion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Office of Evangelization
would like to take this opportunity to catechize and further explain the Jubilee Indulgence.
The Indulgence can be obtained by walking through the Holy Door at St. Louis Cathedral, or
by visiting the other specially designated pilgrimage sites listed below. In addition to a pilgrimage, the Jubilee Indulgence may also be obtained through participating in the Corporal
and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Whether one walks through the Holy Door, goes on pilgrimage, or participates in a Work of Mercy, it is necessary to receive Holy Communion, participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and pray for the Holy Father within three days to
receive the grace of the indulgence.
For the sick and those unable to participate in a pilgrimage or Work of Mercy, Pope Francis
has granted the ability to obtain the same Jubilee Indulgence by receiving Holy Communion
or participating in Mass through various means of communication (TV – WLAE Sunday
11:00 AM/Radio – 690AM Sunday 11:00 AM). Lastly, Pope Francis granted the Jubilee Indulgence to prisoners, stating that they can receive the indulgence in their prison chapels.
In the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Aymond has designated the following
Churches as Jubilee Pilgrimage Sites:
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis King of France (Only Holy Door)
National Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Shrine of the Vietnamese Holy Martyrs
St. Jude Shrine
National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
St. Joseph Church and Shrine on the Westbank
St. Joseph Abbey (temporarily closed due to water damage)
Divine Mercy Parish
St. Ann Church and Shrine
Archdiocesan News Oracle
Page 5
“Respect Life Focus for April — Assisted Reproductive Technologies”
The month of April the Respect Life Office will focus on the topic of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (in
vitro fertilization, surrogacy, & egg/sperm donation) and Catholic alternatives to these. This focus coincides
with Fertility Care Week April 3-9, 2016, and National Infertility Awareness Week April 24-30, 2016. The secular answer to the heartbreak of infertility is typically a medical approach that does not treat the underlying
cause of the infertility and separates the union of the spouses from the creation of their child, treating the
body of each spouse as an instrument to achieve a goal through the use of ARTs, and treating the child as a
product of technology rather than a gift of marriage. Yet not all help for the couple struggling with infertility
is an affront to the dignity of the person or the beauty of marriage. Infertility treatments that seek to find the
underlying problems that are causing infertility and restore the health of the spouses without interfering with
the unitive aspect of creating new life respect the dignity of the person as well as the process by which new
life comes into the world. For a spiritual work of mercy, a novena for those struggling with infertility, and for
a corporal work of mercy to aid those struggling with infertility, please visit the Respect Life Office website: http://respectlife.arch-no.org. For basic Church teaching on Assisted Reproductive Technologies please
visit https://respectlife.arch-no.org/artificial-reproductive-technologies. For more assistance, please contact
Debbie Shinskie at [email protected].
Access Jazz Brunch and Silent Auction
His Excellency Archbishop Gregory Aymond and the Board of ACCESS Pregnancy and Referral Center invite
you to the annual ACCESS Jazz Brunch and Auction on Sunday, April 17, 2016, at 11:30 AM in the Audubon
Tea Room in New Orleans. The “Outstanding Pro-Life Parish of the Year” will be awarded to Divine Mercy.
Proceeds from the brunch and auction allow ACCESS and Catholic Charities Pro-Life Services to continue
meeting critical needs in our community. ACCESS Pregnancy & Referral Center offers vital comprehensive
and complimentary pregnancy support services to nearly 1,000 abortion-vulnerable women and their families each year. Our newest initiative, the ACCESS Mobile Unit, now reaches even more women in underserved areas. ACCESS also operates a Diaper Bank distributing an average of 7,000 diapers monthly to the
needy.
To purchase your tickets, please contact Michelle Black at (504) 885-1141 or email [email protected].
ACCESS puts the pro-life message into action.
Spiritual Work of Mercy “Counsel”
As part of the Jubilee of Mercy toolbox of resources, the Office of Evangelization will be sending bulletin
inserts for use in your parish bulletins throughout the Jubilee of Mercy on the Corporal and Spiritual Works
of Mercy.
Please include the attached insert that highlights the Spiritual Work of Mercy “Counsel”, in your bulletins
the weekend of April 16-17, 2016. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Evangelization at
504-267-9650 or [email protected].
Please see the attached flyer, Mercy, to use as a bulletin insert.
Archdiocesan News Oracle
Page 6
EASTER INTERCESSIONS FOR THE YEAR OF MERCY
That as we celebrate the Lord’s conquering of sin and death,
our hope will be renewed,
our trust refreshed,
and our joy fulfilled during this Jubilee Year of Mercy,
we pray to the Lord.
That, during this Jubilee Year of Mercy,
filled with a spirit of peace and reconciliation,
we may bring the mercy of God to our families, friends and coworkers,
we pray to the Lord.
For all whose hearts are troubled,
for all who live in fear,
for all who doubt God’s presence,
that this Jubilee of Mercy will assure them of God’s closeness and bring them peace,
we pray to the Lord.
That remembering the promises of our baptism,
we may always walk in the light of Christ and
use this Jubilee Year of Mercy to bring that light to all we meet,
we pray to the Lord.
Seeking Nominations for the Saint John Paul II Award
The Catholic Foundation is seeking nominations for the Saint John Paul II Award. The award is presented
annually to an outstanding Catholic layperson(s) or permanent deacon who resides in the Archdiocese of
New Orleans and who exhibits inspirational examples of Christian stewardship. This year’s award will be
presented at The Catholic Foundation’s Annual Dinner held at the New Orleans Hilton Riverside on Thursday, December 1, 2016.
Award nominees should be a practicing Roman Catholic with an outstanding record of volunteer service in
the Catholic Community; high moral character; volunteer board memberships and exemplary values. A
nomination form is available on the Catholic Foundation website (catholicfoundation.arch-no.org/events/
st.john paul II award). Nominations should be no longer than three pages in length. All nominations are
due to The Catholic Foundation by Friday, May 13, 2016. Please submit nominations to:
The Catholic Foundation
1000 Howard Ave., Suite 800
New Orleans, LA 70113
or fax to (504) 596-3068 or email [email protected]
Past Recipients (alpha order): Jack A. Andonie, M.D., Mary Jane and John Becker, Honorable Lindy Boggs,
Elmo Cerise, M.D., Joe Childress, Anne and Jack Dardis, Blanche and Norman Francis, Alden J. “Doc” Laborde , John P. Laborde, Betty Lauricella, Juliet Maquar, Anne Milling, Jane and Paul Nalty, Michael O. Read,
Leon J. Reymond, Jr., Mary Ann Valentino, Deacon Everett Williams, Frank Walk, Jay C. Zainey.
*Note: Names of nominees and nominators are treated with confidentiality
Archdiocesan News Oracle
Page 7
Requirement to Retain FEMA Documentation
Reminder-Any site that obtained FEMA funding for any storm is required to indefinitely retain all documentation pertaining to their projects, i.e., contracts, invoices, cancelled checks, bank statements, etc. Failure to be
able to produce proper documentation will jeopardize funds received. Thank you for your attention to this
matter. If you have any questions, please call Gina Goetzie at 504-861-6252.
Requirement to Retain Financial Information
All financial information is currently required to be retained for five years. Due to the potential claims associated with the BP oil spill which occurred on April 20, 2010, all financial information will need to be retained
beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 – June 30, 2012. This includes bank statements, copies of
invoices, financial backup, etc. Also, please note this requirement pertains to all parishes and entities of the
archdiocese, even though your organization may not have previously qualified, it may now qualify. If you
have any questions, please contact the attorney handling this matter, Susie Zeringue, 588-1288, or Gina
Goetzie, 861-6252.
41st Annual Louisiana Clergy Open
TO:
All Louisiana Archdiocese/Dioceses
FROM:
41st Annual Louisiana Clergy Open’s Host Committee (Diocese of Lafayette, LA)
Co-Chairs Fr. Mark Miley and Msgr. Richard Greene
Committee Members: Msgr. Robie Robichaux; Frs. Brian Harrington & Garrett Savoie; and
Golf Professional Teddy Sliman
RE:
This Year’s Tournament, Lunch & Scramble on WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2016
The 41st Annual Clergy Open will be played at Squirrel Run Golf Course located at 500 Darby Lane in New Iberia on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. An 18-hole tournament will begin at 8:30 AM with lunch to follow at 1:00
PM and a 9-hole scramble at 1:45 PM. There is no fee for participating.
All priest-golfers, deacon-golfers and seminarian-golfers in Louisiana are invited to join us! Participating priests
and deacons may stay free at nearby rectories. To register, please email Mindy Domingue at
[email protected] or phone her at 337-364-4439. Thanks, and we hope to see you there!
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Attention Married Couples: Rekindle your love for another on a get-away weekend. What better way to celebrate the gift of your unique love than to make time to focus on each other and your marriage? Consider
attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend to renew those feelings you had during your first few
years together. The next two weekends are July 22-24, 2016, and Oct 14-15, 2016, at the Bishop Robert E.
Tracy Center in Baton Rouge. You can get more information or register online at LAMS-wwme.org or by calling 470-297-8560.
Archdiocesan News Oracle
Page 8
Office of Religious Education-Position Available
The Office of Religious Education is accepting applications for a full time position as the Associate Director
for Mission and Ministry. This person will be responsible for coordinating the goals and missions of the
Office of Religious Education in collaboration with the Office of Religious Education staff, other archdiocesan
offices, and parishes. Applicant must be a practicing Catholic who is able to communicate effectively and
work collaboratively. For more information regarding the qualifications and responsibilities and to submit a
cover letter and resume please contact, please email Dianne Condiff-Higgins, Registrar/Office Manager at:
[email protected]. The closing date is April 29, 2016.
Office of Religious Education-Position Available
The Office of Religious Education is accepting applications for a full time Administrative Assistant Position.
The Director is seeking someone with 5+ years experience as an Administrative Assistant with secretarial
skills. For more information regarding the qualifications and responsibilities and to submit a cover letter
and resume, please email Dianne Condiff-Higgins, Registrar/Office Manager at: [email protected]. The closing date is April 29, 2016.
St. Angela Merici-Position Available
St. Angela Merici is looking for an individual to lead our 5:00 PM Praise and Worship Mass. Ideal candidate
will have experience in praise and worship liturgy, choosing and performing hymns and playing guitar. This
is a paid position. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested.
Secretary, Administrative Team
Available May 1, 2016
Secretarial applications are now being accepted for the Archdiocesan Administrative Office. We are looking
for a seasoned professional who finds it meaningful to serve in the ministerial work of the Church. Candidate must have strong administrative experience, including travel/appointment scheduling, dictation/
transcription, and excellent written and oral communication.
Qualified candidates will have:
 Highly developed administrative, organizational and people skills
 Effective communication and presentation skills
 Professional demeanor and able to maintain confidentiality
 Ability to perform well under pressure, and adaptable to changes as the schedule requires
 Skills in dictation/transcription



Appropriate education and one-three years experience with work in relevant programs at a parish/
Catholic school a plus
General office environment | Monday through Friday | Hours: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Full-time salaried with comprehensive benefits
Apply with resume and letter of interest to [email protected]
Please include your name and ‘Secretary’ in the subject line
Accepting referrals and applications until qualified candidate is identified.
For any inquiries on the Archdiocesan News Oracle, please contact Pastoral Planning and Ministries at
[email protected].
Counsel
The third spiritual work of mercy is to counsel. The
understanding of this work of mercy is sometimes different
depending on where the emphasis is put. Some people focus on
the action of counseling others to make good choices that will
lead them closer to God’s will for them, and others focus on
helping people overcome the doubt that can plague their lives.
These two understandings above merge in the awareness that
to believe in Christ and give one’s life to him is the most
important decision anyone could make. Every other good
decision leads up to choosing Christ or flows from this choice.
Following Christ always includes the cross.
The decisions that humans make ultimately become who they
are. In fact, making a decision could be the difference between
heaven and hell, between happiness and unhappiness, between
a life of sin and a life full of grace and virtue.
Christians have a duty to counsel their neighbors to help them
make the right decisions, particularly if they are asked. And they
will be asked. If a Christian is living as a true disciple of Christ, it
will cause questioning in the lives of those around them: Why
did they act with such kindness? Why are they so joyful when
their life is so hard? How can I be more like them? If one’s life
does not look different from those around them, then the
decision to follow Christ has not changed them enough.
When a Christian is asked a question, they should “Always be
ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a
reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15). Then they must be open
to the Holy Spirit. This work of mercy is a particularly spiritual
one because the Spirit’s gift of counsel is needed to do it well, if
at all. God alone knows the exact course this person should
take toward him, so to insert one’s own counsel could hinder the
person’s progress toward God. When someone asks them for
advice, the Christian should say a prayer to the Holy Spirit and
trust him to work. The Spirit’s gift of counsel will help one to sort
out the person’s situation and give them advice to help them on
their journey toward God.
If Christians do not see the importance of guiding their
neighbors towards heaven, then they are not truly caring for
their neighbor.
Pray!
Dear Jesus,
So many people around me are lost and confused about
what they should do. They have no idea how to reach
you. Help me to tell them by my words and actions how to
be happy, that happiness lies only in you. Help me to give
them good advice, even if I feel small and useless in light
of their problems. Send the Holy Spirit to speak through
me.
I ask this through the intercession of your mother, who we
call Our Lady of Good Counsel, and your Holy Name.
Amen.
Reflection/Action
Read the advice Jesus gives to his disciples about carrying
their crosses in Matthew 16:24-28.
•
Why is this good advice?
•
Is it easy to follow?
•
In what situations could it help the most?
•
How can you apply this to your life?